Kampgrounds of America every April releases its North American Camping Report, an in-depth look at the state of the camping industry in the past year and projects what’s ahead. This year that report has been expanded to look at the entire camping outdoor hospitality industries.
Now called The North American Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report, 2023, the report notes how the outdoor travel sector has grown considerably over the past several years, now making up a formidable part of the overall leisure travel landscape as people seek solace in nature and affordable vacation options in the great outdoors. While the pandemic may have instigated this behavior, it continues even today.
The report provides an in-depth look at key trends shaping the outdoor hospitality industry, including how the camping and glamping market is evolving as travelers re-establish pre-pandemic travel habits, how travelers are adapting their upcoming plans amid economic uncertainty, and how specific demographic populations describe their relationship with outdoor-focused leisure travel as the 2023 peak camping season begins.
In its ninth year continuously measuring growth and interest in camping and outdoor travel, KOA’s industry-leading camping report broadens its scope to look more holistically at outdoor hospitality and its importance in the larger camping industry. Outdoor hospitality extends across four sectors, accommodation, food and beverage, travel and tourism, and entertainment and recreation – 61% of campers strongly agree that offering services and amenities beyond the campsite or accommodation is pivotal in providing outdoor hospitality. In total, 78% of campers say that outdoor hospitality is important in their travel experiences. In 2022, camping and glamping accounted for 32% of all leisure trips, making camping and outdoor hospitality a crucial travel segment.
“As leisure travelers increasingly choose the outdoors over other alternatives, we need to look more granularly at camping,” said Toby O’Rourke, CEO and president of Kampgrounds of America. “A decade of independent research confirms that camping is a preferred way for many to travel, try new things and connect with what they care about most. The segment of outdoor hospitality, growing in importance, offers additional ways for people to connect to the outdoors.”
Key findings from the report include:
- On average, campers spent an additional $19 per day on travel expenses in 2022 compared to 2021.
- Glampers spend the most per day on accommodations and off-site, spending $393 per day in average expenses.
- It is estimated that campers spent $52 billion in local communities last year, an increase of $8 billion from the year prior.
Click here to view the full report.
